Dual Cultivation God Returns

The current monarch of the Island Kingdom of Lihai sat on the throne in the dark and empty throne room, the sliding doors on both sides leading to terraces wide open to let the moonlight in from one side.

His face that usually was emotionless had a shadow of turmoil over it.

"You seem troubled, Your Majesty"

A voice resounded in the room, as the eyes of the man on the throne rose to look forward with vigilance.

But after a moment, a recognition appeared in them as his posture that previously began to tense up, gradually relaxed again.

After he kept quiet for a bit, the voice added "Speak your thoughts freely, there is no merit in asking a question only to get the answer you like if the truth is the opposite"

The eyes of the King expressed a slight turmoil after those words, and he finally sighed.

"You have left us in the hands of those who were only intermediaries between the decision makers and task executors", he spoke with a slightly tired voice.

"And you belong to the latter", Wu Long came out of the shadow into the direct light of the moon, gesturing the man on the throne to continue sitting as he was.

"...indeed", the King replied with a slight pause.

Keeping up standard operation of an organization that has a rigid and well defined structure might seem like an easy task, but was surprisingly hard to do if there were no people ready, and capable enough, to make decisions at the top.

Wu Long knew that, but the fate of this particular branch of the Bahshi Assassins did not bother him much.

That is, until now.

"Your name?", Wu Long's sudden question caused the monarch to raise his eyebrows but reply with no hesitation.

"Xin Ren"

"Not of the Bahshi bloodline", Wu Long nodded, confirming his own guesses.

This man was not of a high rank in the Assassination Group. Rather, he was quite low-ranking based on his position in that underground hall.

That was all he could be given his origin.

In a way, Xin Ren embodied what the Bahshi Assassination Group considered an ideal, someone with a publicly high status, and yet a low standing in the organization.

However, the fact he was chosen for this position, as trivial it may be for them, despite being not born into the Bahshi Assassination Group, spoke of two distinct qualities.

A high intellect to operate on his own in the absence of orders, as well as make decisions that would be in line with the thinking of his superiors while doing so.

The second quality, was obedience and loyalty, bordering on fanaticism, with the ability to follow orders without hesitation, questions, or delay, even if he objected to them logically.

"You pass", Wu Long then chuckled as Xin Ren expressed a slightly puzzled expression.

"I will promote you in the Bahshi Assassination Group, as I need you to do some things for me", an explanation followed as a comprehension and a conflicted look appeared in the eyes of the King.

"But... I am not of the bloodline...", he spoke as Wu Long nodded with a chuckle.

"Fun fact, the rule that only those born in the Bahshi Assassination Group can rise through higher ranks is not an official one, but one that appeared much later when clans formed", Wu Long spoke with an amused chuckle escaping him at the end as he saw the shock in the eyes of the one he spoke to.

"Is that not insubordination to create additional rules not mandated by the Supreme Demon?", Xin Ren spoke with exasperation.

"It is, but in this particular case, one that was not that crucial to threaten the existence of the group as a whole. The one who created the organization knew that ambition and hunger for power was not something he could completely eliminate, especially at the scale he thought of raising it to.

So, he allowed that narrow margin of freedom, accounting for struggle horizontally within the group's hierarchy, and oppression from higher levels to lower", Wu Long nodded, providing a little explanation, and then wryly smiled as he saw the look in Xin Ren's eyes, asking "Disillusioned?"

"...a little", the monarch spoke in a disheartened tone, lowering his gaze.

There was, after all, a reason for his obedience and loyalty despite his intelligence. It was the belief in the absolute rule of the laws that governed Bahshi Assassins, and that everyone within it were subjected to it.

An order that set it apart from the chaotic state of the world.

His first major shock came when he learned that the Matriarch and her followers broke the command of the Supreme Demon, revealed by their conversation with Wu Long. However, that was a disobedience that was in the end punished, therefore restoring balance in his worldview.

His second, came now, as he learned that even the larger structure of the Assassination Group was not as orderly as he thought.

"The rule of the techniques is still absolute though. And that ensures that the structure remains stable. So? Now that you know that you're not excluded from being in a higher position by your bloodline, what do you think of my proposition?", Wu Long then smiled as Xin Ren turned his gaze back to him.

"Do you wish for me to work against the Bahshi Assassination Group?", he cautiously asked.

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"Hahaha, no, not at all. I do need to use the group as a whole for another goal though", Wu Long lightly laughed and explained as the man on the throne turned into a cloud of black smoke and then reappeared in front, on one knee with a lowered head.

"Then I would gladly become the instrument of the one with the eyes of the Ghost Ruler", Xin Ren spoke with a feeling of reverence in his throne and a smile touched Wu Long's lips. "I will look forward to your work, Xin Ren"